The greater choice between an infinitive or gerund is in the subject function especially if the main verb is present or future. Examples:
• To learn learning a new language is difficult
• To hear hearing such praise will embrace him.
However, if the main verb indicates a past single action, or if the verb is in the p[assive voice, the gerund is usually required.
Example: •
Finding the answer presented a problem In this example, the action of finding the answer was the only action taken.
• Their stealing merchandise from the store will eventually be noticed.
The passive construction makes the gerund a better choices than the infinitive in which the action of stealing merchandise from the store may
imply the meaning of an opinion, that is, there is no continuation that will be eventually noticed.
2.2.2 Gerund After Preposition
The gerund form must be used when a verb is placed immediately after a preposition. Verbs + preposition followed by the gerund such as: approve of, give
up, rely on, insist on, succeed in, count on, keep on, be better of, think about, depend on, put of, think of, object to, look forward to, etc..
Examples: •
In her letter, my friend looked forward to hearing from me. •
He insisted on seeing her. Adjective + prepositions are followed by gerund such as:
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Accustomed to, intent to, afraid of, interested in, capable of, successful in, angry with, fond of, good at, etc..
Examples: •
We are interested in seeing the film. •
We are accustomed to sleeping late on weekends. If there are nouns + preposition, they must be followed by gerund, such as:
choices of, possibility of, excuse for, intention for, reason for, method of, etc.. Examples:
• Excuse me for disturbing you.
• She is the reason for her mother for living.
Generally, if there is a preposition it can be directly followed by a verb ended by – ing. The verb will be in the gerund form.
Examples: •
After living the party, Ali drove home. •
He should have studied in New York instead of moving to Paris.
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2.2.3 Gerund after Possessive Adjective
a. If the verb of verb + preposition is directly followed by gerund it refers to the
subject of a verb. Example:
• He insisted on seeing the document he saw it
However, if we put possessive adjective or pronoun before the gerund, the gerund refers to the person denoted by the possessive or adjective pronoun.
Example: •
He insisted on me my reading the document I had to read it
b. Useful verbs and expressions which can take either construction are: dislike, dread, fancy, involve, like negative, mean, mind, propose, recollect,
remember, resent, save, stop, suggest, understand, approve disapprove of, insist on, it’s no good use, object to, there’s no point in, what’s the point of.
Examples: •
He disliked working late he disliked memy working late •
I object to paying twice for the same thing I object to hishim making private calls on this phone
• He resented being passed over for promotion he resented myme being
promoted before him.
c. Excuse, forgive, pardon, and prevent are not followed directly by the gerund but take possessive adjectivepronoun + gerund or pronoun + preposition +
gerund.
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Examples: •
Forgive myme ringing you up so early forgive me for ringing you up so early
• You can’t prevent hishim spending his own money you can’t prevent
him spending his own money
d. Possessive adjective and pronoun object compared
In formal English the possessive adjective is used with the gerund. But in informal English we very often use the pronoun. The student therefore has a choice of
forms, but is recommended to use the pronoun. With stop meaning ‘prevent’ the pronoun is more usual than the possessive
adjective: Example:
• I can’t stop him writing to the papers.
e. Nouns with gerund
In very formal English the possessive case is used: I do not remember my mother’s complaining about it.
But it is much more usual to omit the ‘s: I do not remember my mother complaining about it.
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2.2.4 Gerund as Object
